Providing women in the insurance industry with opportunities for professional development and assistance in advancing their careers

Scholarship Recipients

APIW Memorial Scholarships

Giving back to the industry

Each year since 1987, APIW has awarded scholarships to worthy students at The College of Insurance, now St. John’s University, the School of Risk Management. In the latter years, these were given under the name “Lana James Memorial Scholarship,” in honor of a dedicated APIW volunteer and Board Member who died prematurely in 1992. Additional scholarships were also given on behalf of our Chicago Network to the Katie Insurance School of Illinois.

The tragic events of September 11th brought about our desire to create a symbolic and encompassing remembrance. We wished to honor all those within the APIW family who were lost that day and remember those members who have lost their lives prematurely.

In their memory, APIW’s scholarships are now given under the name “APIW Memorial Scholarship” at St. John’s University and the “APIW Lana James Memorial Scholarship” at the Katie School of Insurance.

2014 Scholarship Recipients

APIW 2014 Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Brittany Sakson

Brittany Sakson is a junior from Pennsylvania, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science at St. John’s University’s Tobin College of Business. Brittany has made an impact in numerous organizations on campus which she absolutely loves being a part of. This year

alone she is Secretary for St. John’s Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the international business fraternity for Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science, Co-Chair of the Elections Committee for Student Government Inc., a Student Ambassador and Discover New York Peer Leader. She has also been very involved in other functions of Student Government as well as heavily committed in Relay For Life and sits alongside faculty within the Professional Development, which allocates money to different students and groups to attend conferences and events to better enhance their college experience, as the

Student Government Inc. Representative. Additionally, Brittany enjoys giving back in any way she can and has participated in a service trip to Denver, Colorado this past spring break to help out in areas that are in poverty. She also has been involved in Lockton’s Risk Leadership Development Program for two years. Through this program, she and other St. John’s students are mentored by a broker at Lockton, and overall, allows her to learn more about the insurance industry, develop to become a well rounded individual, and to give back to the community. Last but not least, she serves as the founding President for the Actuarial Club at St. John’s University as a recognized organization and was chosen as one of a select group to embark on a 16 day trip to Europe with St. John’s Faculty and her fellow classmates to visit global headquarters of several insurance companies.

She has interned for the CEO of Zurich Global Corporate in North America in New York City, and this past summer was at General Reinsurance Corporation within their Treaty business unit as an Actuarial Intern. Brittany has been chosen as a Spencer Scholar and also holds scholarship awards from The Walter Leonard and Tom Joyce Memorial, NJ CPCU, Geico, and Angus Robinson Foundation Scholarship. Brittany tries her hardest to make a difference and loves every second of her journey toward working in the insurance industry.

APIW 2014 Lana James Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Michelle Godbey

Michelle Godbey has a double major in insurance and finance and has been very involved in the Katie School of Insurance and Gamma Iota Sigma activities. She has been the Director of Community Service this past year for the insurance fraternity and will be Vice President in the upcoming academic year. She was recently selected to participate in the Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program at the RIMS Annual Conference in Denver and has completed an internship with State Farm Insurance Companies and will begin a second internship with COUN TRY Financial in underwriting audit this summer.

Michelle has been a Spring Break and Winter Break Team Leader for the Alternative Breaks program performing volunteer work in Washington, DC, Texas, Virginia and Mexico and she continues to maintain a 3.88 GPA .